What is AUTISM? // Autism awareness and acceptance

What is autism? What is it like to be autistic?

Autism spectrum condition (or autism spectrum disorder, depending on who you ask) is a neurological condition that affects 1-3% of the population, maybe more.

I made this video to help people understand what autism actually is, as there is so much misinformation and so many myths out there. In this video I talk about sensory sensitivities, social communication, stimming, executive functioning and special interests.

[YoSamdySam]

If you have any further questions, please reply to this comment and I will try to answer them!

[SakuraStallion]

"This can also be why autism is missed in girls, especially if their special interest is appropriate for their age or gender."

"Yeah like my horse obsession that I haven't gotten over since 2002 huh."


"Like horses-"


*SPITS OUT DRINK*

[noor-]

U did a great job explaining autism in nutshell, that's not easy. It's the perfect video to be sharing and sending around. I just send it to old friends and family, even to people I didn't talk to for years. 90% of those people don't know I'm autistic. It's giving me anxiety at the moment, but I felt I needed to do this. With this video u offered a nice way to handle this, I wouldn't know otherwise where to start. Yaay I'm exited about this week, it's so important for autism and for society! (exited hand clapping)

[euanelliott]

Strangely, I don't feel stigma with autism.
When I discovered it I felt relieved, and that translated to a positivity about myself.
I was also told I was too sensitive, but then I was being psychologically bullied every school day for eight years, sometimes physically too.
I was appalled at the sheer unfairness of my treatment, and perhaps this eventually led to my developing schizophrenia too, as well as acute depression.
I don't feel like a victim, I feel like an enlightened survivor.
Love to you all,
Euan, proud autistic schizophrenic.

[biseragjurovska]

I'm so happy to have found this channel, it's very educational and I love to hear what an actual autistic person thinks of autism and not just hear neurotypical people talk about it (not that neurotypical people can't have good knowledge on the subject). In any case, keep up the good work, you're doing a great deal of good for both autistic and non-autistic people.

[EcoHamletsUK]

As an autistic railway enthusiast, I know there are NTs who are experts in train timetables too! I'm not, but I had quite a discussion about the mentions of model railways in my diagnosis report, as it came across to me as being seen as an obsession, when I know there are far more obsessive NTs out there. The distinction between NT hobbies and autistic special interests can seem a bit blurry!

[andreutormos]

The thing you said about executive functioning is very important. My attention at school was way above normal, I've always listened to my teachers, never talked or interrupted. I was very organized with homework, subjects, books and exams. I found it easy and didn't understand why my peers struggled so much with it. But since I graduated from school, I've been struggling so much with executive functioning. Not having a structure that I simply need to follow, it's very difficult for me to build one up. Having said that, I love routines, and once I have it, it's easy for me to stick to it.

[The_Dudester]

I have written a movie script about my life ages 6 to 13 where I educate about autism, but only in an ambiguous way. I show the social isolation I faced as well as discrimination from teachers who didn't fully understand my ability to store a lot of information:"Why are you getting a perfect score on the test when your classmates don't? How are you cheating?"
There are some other factors to the story. If it wasn't for the other factors I would title the story "Misunderstood."
I wasn't diagnosed with autism until I was 40 and going through therapy. Finding out explained so many things. I still struggle in some ways and my journey is so far from an end. I do thank those who try to educate non autistics. Perhaps they can help a parent understand why a child can't wear wool ( an early rift between me and my mother. BTW, I still can't wear wool).

Keep up your good work.

[doofy]

Autism is hard to understand if you are not diagnosed early. Even for the person that has it. Let alone for the people that don't have it.

[aqualungs]

I found out I had Hypermobile EDS in 2020, Psoriatic arthritis in 2021. I met many autistics in a support group for EDS, and then discovered I was possibly on the spectrum last summer. I have finished all my testing and am highly autistic, ADHD, alexithymia. This video will help mom mom understand more as well as others. Thank you so much. And for mentioning "hypermobility" :)

[CaatsGoMoooo]

I absolutely love the way you speak about autism! You hit all the points so perfectly, while addressing a lot of the stereotypes people have. Happy Autism Awareness Week! <3

[alexc]

1:28 The only way I “grew out” of my sensitivities was by learning to dissociate and thereby fall out of touch with myself and dull my entire existence

The only trains I’m into are in trolley problems 😁
I did play a war train video game, though, and got into 20th century military technology in middle school like tanks and planes

[ginnystark]

I really really love the way you talk about autism because it's the first time I've really seen myself and the way my autism presents represented! I am still on my journey towards an official diagnosis, so hearing you talk about the way we experience the world is always incredibly reassuring.

[candyjj]

This is great! I've struggled with the stigma so much and you're doing an amazing job of educating people!

[ellie]

I was diagnosed with ADD and autism in March of 2019. I had just turned 33. So much in my life suddenly made a lot of sense.
I have masked a lot in my life without even understanding that is what I have been doing.
I'll say that I have been lucky in my life. Even if I have constant anxiety, have eating disord and most of the time have a constant inner stress, I have been lucky.
Lucky that I meet an awesome husband at the age of 19, lucky that I even with my diagnosis been able to manage life with 3 kids, lucky that I by chans find a work that I really love which have turned in to one of my special intrestes. Which means that I'm extremely awesome at what I do for a living. Which means that I have been able to get better and better work positions.

So yes I have days when everything is so bad that I don't even want to get up from my bed. But I at the same time I have a life that I love. Everyone is awesome at something you just need to find your place ❤️

[tsonneckful]

Thanks to you and your incredibly helpful channel I gained the courage to find out if I'm Autistic too – now I'm in therapy to help me implement all the fundamental changes I face. But all in all, I am so happy I finally found all the answers to my confusing brain. Thank you so much, I hope your channel will reach many many more people in the world. Your videos are so educational and easy to understand.

[brendinbair]

This is such a great video! I’m 26 and just found out I’m autistic! This video is perfect for showing someone when you’re trying to explain what autism is. I love your videos thank you so much for helping me through realizing why I’m “different” from every one else lol keep up the great work

[crobinsmusic]

Thank you for your videos. I have been coming to accept that I have Autism over the last couple of months, after one of my infrequent meltdowns forced me to look at the suggestion of a few of friends (two Autistic persons and two therapists) that I was probably autistic. Your videos have helped as I came to see many of my behaviors as typical for who I am. Your videos have helped as I have come to terms with what it means moving forward for improving my life.

[Monika-ejrs]

Awesome Video Sam! I was just diagnosed a few weeks ago and I will definitely share your video on my social media so that the people in my life that I don’t talk to on an everyday basis can ideally better understand what Autism actually is!

[melineheuer]

Thank you so much for speaking for us❤️ you can explain what I‘m not able to. It even helps me, to understand myself better. To hear you is like medecine. Thanky you so so much for helping me to get back a little of my self-esteem an to remember me that I‘m not a wrong person, that my brian just works different. Big kisses😘